CVE-2018-7251 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been found in config/error.php in Anchor 0.12.3. This vulnerability exposes the error log to be accessed through the URI errors.log, potentially revealing MySQL credentials if a MySQL error like 'Too many connections' has occurred.

Understanding CVE-2018-7251

This CVE entry highlights a security issue in Anchor 0.12.3 that could lead to the exposure of sensitive information.

What is CVE-2018-7251?

CVE-2018-7251 is a vulnerability in Anchor 0.12.3 that allows unauthorized access to the error log, potentially exposing MySQL credentials in case of specific errors.

The Impact of CVE-2018-7251

The vulnerability could result in the compromise of sensitive information, particularly MySQL credentials, leading to potential unauthorized access to databases.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-7251

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue in config/error.php in Anchor 0.12.3 exposes the error log at errors.log URI, potentially disclosing MySQL credentials during specific error conditions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Systems: Anchor 0.12.3
Affected Versions: All versions of Anchor 0.12.3

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows attackers to access the error log through the URI errors.log, potentially revealing MySQL credentials if certain errors occur.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-7251 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable direct access to error logs in production environments.
Regularly monitor and review error logs for any unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices to prevent information disclosure vulnerabilities.
Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Update Anchor CMS to version 0.12.7 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed.